Habitat looking for a rural kind of family

habitat

Derek Corbeil, operations manager at North Bay’s Moose’s Cookhouse attempts to lift the giant jar of donations his customers have made over the past several months in order to present them to Habitat for Humanity chair John Humble.

NORTH BAY – The Canadian mint may be making pennies a thing of the past, but for a least one local organization pennies are the way to a bright new future.
This past spring the North Bay and Blue Sky Region Habitat for Humanity launched a campaign to take those pesky pennies out of area wallets and into collection jars. At the end of December John Humble, Habitat chair, announced that a total of 276,336 pennies had been collected with more to be counted.
Still to be tallied are the contents of a mega water jug that has graced the bar at Moose’s Cookhouse since the start of the summer. Not only have patrons dropped in pennies, “but there’s a lot of bills in there as well,” said Moose’s operations manager Derek Corbeil. “We’ve watched a lot of people put all their change in, and even more.”
Moose owner Chris White said, “The day I came in and realized the jar was mostly full instead of mostly empty really made me pause. It took all summer and fall, but it was amazing to think that by having lots of people putting a little bit in that jar each day we ended up with something really remarkable. The generosity of our customers will really make a difference to what Habitat can achieve next year.”
A number of area groups and businesses helped in the collection of coppers, which will help Habitat build another home for a partner family. They include the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Brick, and Silver Birches School.
“The outstanding contribution from the patrons at the Moose and the accumulated donations of all our community partners and friends will be critical to our success in building another house for a partner family. But we’re not stopping. We’re still collecting pennies and change, and anything else people can donate, in an effort to meet our goal of 10 million pennies,” said Humble.
Habitat is planning to build its fifth area home later this year on land donated to the organization in Feronia east of North Bay on Highway 63.
“That’s the last piece of land we have in the bank,” said BJ Szabicot a North Bay Habitat board member. “It’s a challenge to find property for the builds.”
The more rural location means that the family that will make the new building its home will have to be chosen with care.
“We have to find the best partner family,” Szabicot said. “It has to be someone who understands rural amenities, septic tanks and wells, snow shoveling, and who has access to transportation. We would be doing a disservice to a family to put them there if they weren’t prepared for the lifestyle. We want a family that will thrive in the rural environment.”
Humble agrees that the selection process may be a little more difficult this time around. “There will have to be a level of income that can support the extra expenses of living in the country,” he said, “but on the other hand, it’s only 15 minutes from North Bay and it’s a wonderful community that has a lot of benefits for a family.”
Habitat needs to raise $100,000 in cash for the project and hopes to have the new home ready to move into by this fall.
“That money goes for building the foundations, studs and transporting the supplies,” said Humble. “The rest come from donations of goods or gifts in kind.”
Habitat has extended the deadline for families to apply for the new Feronia home to Jan. 31. All of the requirements and details on how to apply can be found on the website at habitatnorthbay.com.
Habitat for Humanity is still collecting donations, so it’s not too late to help someone find a welcome home.
“We’re open for donations of volunteer time, of supplies, or money,” said Humble. “And we would love to receive a donation of land. Available lots in the city are not readily available and we’re going to be looking to smaller communities as locations for future builds. “
Habitat is a registered charity. To discuss your donation options call 705-495-6244 or email info@habitatnorthbay.com to make an appointment.
“Helping someone find a home,” said Humble, “is a great way to start the New Year.”
Story by Laurel J. Camapbell lcampbell@metrolandnorthmedia.com